I'm wondering what the community thinks of the EFI system used in 2000 - I've read here before I think, that it's maybe not so good.

I have a 2000 Electra Glide with a fuel injected TC88. I got it used, and it has never seemed to run exactly right: Throttle response is sluggish and a bit uneven for one, and it also pops on decel, though it was supposedly dyno tuned after the Big Sucker air filter and V & H Turn-Down slip ons were installed.

My question is, do I need to just get rid of this system altogether, or can it be tweaked / improved to perform well? If it really is just a paperweight, what do ya'll see as the best path to a better running motor, within financial reason, of course?

As an aside, I'll be riding to Alaska next summer so I want something that isn't temperamental and can handle altitude changes without too much issue.

(I posted a similar thread in the Touring section, but later realized that was the wrong place for it)

 

The M&M EFI system is OK when it is running right. It is a bit temperamental. Consider also that they only ran the M&M EFI as an option from starting in 1995- 2001, so not all Harleys made were fuel injected. There are fewer and fewer mechanics around that know how to work on them, and parts are also diminishing.

So, to answer your question, if you are going to hang on to it then spend the money, and convert it over at some point. I will eventually do this, but for now, I will keep chasing the small issues down.

Also get yourself a Harley service manual for it. In there are flow charts that help to diagnose most ills.

 

Sounds like you may have a problem with the tune.

I had a 2000 RKC with the MM EFI. Never had any issues with the fuel injection in the 12+ years I owned it.

Not all dyno tunes are effective. You need an experienced tuner that has been doing Harleys for a while. Many dealerships do substandard dyno work.

I suggest you try one of the standard dynojet stage-1 tunes for your PC and see how it runs.

I used a power commander with my bike and the standard tunes worked well for both stage-1 and stage-2. I only had to make minor adjustments to get rid of decel popping.

 

IMO it isn't either good or bad. It just is what it is. Not a very powerful system and it does have limitations. This also applies to the tuning systems out there for it. I like techno research for tuning these, and wont tune them any other way.


The two big problems I run into on these 17 year old bikes has more to do with worn out, sloppy mechanical pieces. The other is how the initial setting for TPS, and cold starts are set up. One of these can be addressed but with worn out stuff. There isn't rebuild kits and new TB's are expensive, and going to single bore does induce some more tail chasing.

 

Thanks for you feedback.

Having done some research on local shops, I get connected with two of the best Harley specialist indies in my region (Silicon Valley), one who built my motor but got out of the dyno game years ago (RE Engineering, 20 years in business), and R.C. Cycles in Hayward (30+ years in business) that will be doing my tune. Both of these men agree with you that the MM setup is fine for the most part, but has it's limitations and can be a little finicky. When I mentioned changing out the MM for a carb, both said (surprisingly) I don't really need to do that for my build (100" with 571 cams, Thunderheader, low restriction air filter). RC Cycles said the MM is fine for builds up to about 110 HP, then starts to fall short.